President Nana Akufo-Addo has taken a significant step to address concerns raised by organised labour regarding the controversial sale of four hotels by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to Rock City Hotels Limited, owned by Agriculture Minister, Bryan Acheampong.
Organised Labour had petitioned the president to halt the sale of the hotels to the minister cum Member of Parliament.
In response, President Akufo-Addo directed the Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Ignatius Baffour Awuah to engage in discussions with labour leaders.
The president’s goal is to find a mutually acceptable solution to the dispute, ensuring that the interests of all stakeholders are considered.
Dr Yaw Baah, Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), confirmed the president’s directive in a media engagement.
“We wrote to the president that we needed to engage him on this [sale of the SSNIT hotels]. He has referred it to the [Employment and Labour Relations] Minister to start the engagement with us.
“We are hoping that these engagements will help all of us to find a solution to what we think is a problem.
“We are going to meet with the SSNIT Board. Organised labour leaders are going to meet with the SSNIT Board and also with the Employment and Labour Relations Minister who is also in charge of pensions.”
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who first brought the sale to public attention, has also petitioned the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to probe the sale of the hotels to the Agriculture Minister.
